The only way you are ever going to get an Escort to accelerate uphill is to flog the engine, no matter if you have a 3-speed or a 10-speed.
How did our parents and grand-parents ever survive…30 years of 3-speed 6 cylinder cars? How did they do it?? No ABS, no traction control, no AWD, no air-bags, no check engine lights…They drove them in the wintertime too! With no salt on the roads! No GPS displays! The wipers only worked when you took your foot off the gas…
I went back to the dealership tonight and drove another 6 speed manual Camry and the original one as well. Both cars operated the same. I guess I’m becoming used to the gas / clutch combination because although I could still notice the acceleration not diminishing when I took my foot off of the accelerator and depressed the clutch to change the gears, It seemed more normal after reading all of your collected posts. Even so I can’t say that I am comfortable with it.
It appears to me that this situation only occurs when going from 1st to 2nd to 3rd. Changing gears from 3 to 6 it seemed that the constant acceleration was not noticable. Also when shifting into 5th gear there seems to be something like a burr on the gear because you feel a rough spot shifting into the gear.
The salesman and sales manager riding with me appeared to confirm that the way the accelerator / clutch / engine function together is indeed for emmissions and engine efficiency reasons.
I am stil on the fence about this purchase because 6 seems a lot of gears. I have been driving a 1995 Camry with a 5 speed manual transmission since it was new ( 204,000 miles ) and I have never had a problem ( knock on wood ) with the 5 speed either mechanically or operationally.
Perhaps you should pass on the 2010 Camry and see how a 2011 drives. My guess is Toyota will find a way to alter the computer programming to and meet emission standarda and improve the driveability of the manual Camry. This change will require emission recertification and should show up in future models.
If your '95 Camry can last awhile longer wait this one out. I had a Jeepster in the early '70’s that was all gunked up with emission controls and you had to release the gas petal wait a second or two for the motor start to slow down then shift to the next gear. I learned how to live with it, but it was never fun to drive the car. If you are still driving a stick you likely enjoy shifting and this car just sounds like more of a chore to drive than fun to drive.
Again, not with a torqueless 4 banger. An engine like that needs to be reved to produce power and a closed ratio gear box keeps it reving. I’m not complaining about the engine. I like getting 40 mpg on road trips. But I would like a better propulsion system.
There were times I had to redline in 1st on the steep hills. After I completed the shift to 2nd, the engine would be 1/2 way to redline with the go pedal pinned to the floor just to keep it going. With a wide ratio 4 speed, the car would be easier to start without abusing the clutch, but it would start loosing speed after shifting to 2nd, negating the upshift.
Also, I once took a trip to the Yosemites from the east, which had a climb to 10k ft. With the engine gasping for thin air, I floored it in 3rd just to keep it at 50. Had I downshifted to 2nd, I would redline the engine up that hill the entire way. I would have been happy for something in between.
However, I do agree with you about big Lexus and BMW with 8 speed autos. Those are overkill, with the big engines and torque converters.
Unless they change the programing of the ECU, the 2011 is going to do the same thing as the 2010 model. The lack of RPM falloff when the clutch is engaged is an emissions control. Many manual transmission equiped cars made in the last 7 years or so will do that, regardless of make. On some cars adjustments to the ECU can be made to keep it from happening though.
I had a 98 Oldsmobile Intrigue with the 3.8 and a four speed auto. The car had decent power, especially off the line. However, hitting the gas between 35 and 45 mph it was a dog. It certainly could have benefited from another gear.
Like I said, the thing was underpowered, but after the Escort I had a Saturn which had about the same engine torque to vehicle weight ratio. The Saturn had a 5-speed with much more suitable ratios (specifically, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th were closer). That car accelerated uphill quite nicely without having to go past 3000 RPM. Having well spaced ratios really does make a lot of difference.
Our parents also walked 5 miles to school in 4 feet of snow, uphill both ways! 
How did our parents and grand-parents ever survive. . .30 years of 3-speed 6 cylinder cars?
One popular option on many cars back in the 1940’s through the mid 1960’s was the Borg-Warner overdrive. This really helped the 6 cylinder engines by giving much quieter performance on the highway. There were actually 5 speeds: first, second, overdrive second, high and overdrive high. One couldn’t go into overdrive high until the speed reached about 30 miles per hour.
The Willys Jeep station wagons with the 4 cylinder engines came with the Borg Warner overdrive as standard equipment back in the late 1940’s. Willys with its underpowered engine recognized the need for more speeds in the drivetrain.
I have a 2010 6 speed manual Camry. Yes, it is normal for the revs to stay high for a bit, even with your foot off the gas. It is for emissions, and most new manual trannys built by any maker, will have this “feature”. It is because when throttle shuts quickly, then more unburnt fuel remains and causes more pollution. So the computer keeps the throttle open for a bit. You will get used to it. It is called “Rev Hang” - Google it.
When brand new, the shifter was a little notchy, but it now is very smooth. 6 gears is fine, lots of new cars have 6 manuals. It is mostly for better fuel mpg. 6th gear drops the rpms another 300 on the highway, thus reducing fuel consumption. I enjoy mine, and I also have a 2007 5 speed manual Camry. I like the 2010 better. Go for it!
Can’t comment on the reason for maintaining speed beyond what’s posted, but I can say definitely I wish I had this concern. I have a 2003 Saturn Vue 4 Cyl, with a very low geared 5 speed manual trany. I shift into fifth at around 40 MPH often directly from 3rd gear. By the time I hit 65 the RPM are up to 3000. I usually get between 24-26 MPG (Mostly Highway) and with a 6th gear I would be at 29-31 I am certain. Too bad Saturn is gone and that they were run by GM in 2003.